Movable apparatus for the manufacture of concrete



E. MAIER April 23, 1968 MOVABLE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1966 INVENTQR. W fl April 23, 1968 E. MAIER 3,379,420

MOVABLE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE Filed March 14, 1966 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR United States Patent 0 3,379,420 MOVABLE APPARATUS FOR THE MANU- FACTURE 0F CONCRETE Eckhard Maier, Ettlingen, Baden. Germany, assignor to Elba-Werlr Ettlinger Baumaschinenunri Hebezeugfabrik GmbH, Ettlingen, Baden, Germany, a corporation of German Filed Mar. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 533,927 Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 13, 1965,

E 28.874 4 Claims. (Cl. 259--154) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rollable apparatus for the manufacture of concrete, comprising a common frame and means for feeding, distributing, weighing and mixing of ingredients disposed on the common frame. An elevator means is provided for conveying the finished concrete and comprises an elevator container. A trestle-like base is disposed at one end of the frame and comprises two pairs of supports for increasing the conveying and releasing height. An elevator motor means carried by the base and the pair of supports are disposed behind the apparatus and constitute an elevator path for the elevator container, the elevator motor means for driving the elevator container along the elevator path; a storage silo capable of being emptied is disposed in the upper part of the base, the base having pivoting points, and one of the pairs of supports are connected with the frame by means of the pivoting points, and the base is capable of being lifted and lowered about the pivoting points and mounted releasably on the frame.

The present invention relates to a movable apparatus for the manufacture of concrete in general and to an embodiment of such apparatus equipped preferably with an elevator mixer, in particular, which permits widening of its possibilities of use.

Apparatus for the manufacture of concrete has been known, in which on a common frame, formed on a running gear, a distributor for the dosing of the ingredients with a feeder for the accumulation of the ingredients, as well as conveyor means for the transportation of the mixed goods charge from the distributor to the mixer, scales for the ingredients, binder means, as well as manufacturing water, a mixer for the finishing of the concrete and adjustingand controlinstruments for the apparatus are arranged. The distributor is, thereby, in case the mixing components are not mounted in high containers, formed such, that it receives the individual additional material from mostly sector-shaped storing places, on even level, in which they are stored separate from the movable apparatus. The additional material reaches by its own gravity from the distributor into a receiving and weighing container, in which the mixing goods charge is joined and with which it is fed to the mixer. By means of the feeder disposed on the distributor, the ingredients are accumulated for the substitution of the used-up masses towards the distributor. For this reason, the distributor is always arranged at one end of the running gear frame,'while at its other end is disposed the mixer from which the finished concrete is released and the remaining apparatus parts are disposed between the distributor and the mixer.

The output of each of such apparatus is influenced strongly among others by the capacity of the distributor and depends on the height of the mixer from which the latter can release the finished concrete. The capacity of the distributor is determined by its active store, that means, by the mass of the ingredients, which are accumulated on the latter or in the latter and which reach by their own gravity the receivingand weighing-container. By the releasing height of the mixer, the type of further transportation of the concrete to the site is determined. If this releasing height is low, a repeated dislocation of the finished concrete cannot be avoided. This additional transportation reduces, however, the economy of the apparatus.

Since the present invention deals with an apparatus which is movable on the street, certain limits are set at the start to the height of the distributor in the mixer, which limits cannot be overstepped. The structural height, which is available, does not suffice, however, in many instances, in order to bring the movable apparatus for the manufacture of concrete to the often desired greater output, while maintaining a simple structure and in order to obtain increased economy.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a movable apparatus for the manufacture of concrete, wherein an elevator mixer for a great output and a great concrete releasing height is applied.

This problem was solved in accordance with the present invention such, that for the enlargement of the conveyorand releasing-height for the finished concrete at the end of the frame, a frame is disposed which consists of two pairs of supports and has a trestle-like structure, which permits vehicles to enter therebelow, and which carries a motor-driven elevator device, and in which the pair of supports disposed behind the apparatus is designed as an elevator path for an elevator container or for an elevator mixer, whereby an emptyable container is disposed in the upper part of the frame, a pair of supports is connectable with the frame at rotary points provided on the frame, and this total frame is liftable as well as lowerable from these rotary points and releasable from the frame.

The two pairs of supports are mounted on their upper ends rotatably on a joint cross-beam and can be lifted, in case of constructed storage-silos, spread up to the horizontal and be raised from the horizontal into the working position, respectively. The raising and spreading of the frame takes place over a rope arrangement, which runs from a rope Winch, which is arranged on the rope tension of the feeder, back to guide rollers at the upper part of the frame and returns from there. For the lifting and lowering of the transmittal frame thus a special feeder is used, which is disposed on the distributor of the apparatus and from which only the boom and the cabin is to be removed for the transportation under circumstances.

The structure of the total apparatus from the transportation position to the working position and vice versa takes place with means inserted into the apparatus without remote crane help and in the shortest possible time. It is of no significance thereby whether the frame is placed on the ground with a pair of supports on the frame rotary points or for instance, on the feet of the truck which moves the collapsed frame.

After the mounting of the frame, thereafter the storage-silo is lifted likewise by means of a rope pull by means of a rope winch disposed on the feeder. The storage-silo comprises preferably an upper part, which is secured to the upper frame cross-beam, a center part and a lower part with a closure and its setting device. The center part of the silo is exchangeable and can be adjusted to the prevailing required capacity by exchange pieces.

The apparatus designed in accordance with the present invention makes it possible to mount extremely fast and without foreign auxiliary means a concrete manufacturing apparatus from the condition movable on the street, the storage-silo of which apparatus, is disposed so high, that the finished concrete can be released even directly to modern transport mixers without intermediate storage, what was possible until now only in connection with stationary large arrangements.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a movable apparatus in working position with indicated storage of material to be admixed;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1 during the pulling-up of the transmittal frame; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic showing of a rope guide for pulling-up the frame as individual uni-t.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus designed in accordance with the present invention comprises a joint frame 1, below which for the transportation in lieu of the supports 2 and 3, a front axle swivelling base (not shown) and a rear axle base is moved in. On the frame 1 is arranged the distributor 4 with telescoping supports 5 for the transportation. On the distributor 4 is mounted the boom device 6 as a feeder of the latter, which boom device 6 moves a container 7 with which the ingredients 8 are accumulated from the storage places 9 toward-s the distributor 4. In the guide path 10 runs the receivingand weighing-container .1 1 into which the ingredients are fed from the distributor in which they are weighed and are fed to the transformation hopper 12, through which the transmission takes place in the elevator mixing container 13. From the cement scale 14 simultaneously the binder means and from the water scale 15 and by means of a water clock, respectively, the required quantity of manufacturing water is added over separate channels disposed in the transmission hopper 12. During the transmittal of the total charge, the mixing device operates already and by additional mixing the elevator mixing container 13 is lifted in the left pair of supports 16 of the transmission frame 17, until it empties the manufactured concrete by tipping the finished concrete by tipping at the end of the elevator ,path 18 finally into the storage-silo 19. On the joint frame are additionally the adjusting instruments 20, the control indicators 21 and a service stand 22 below a roof 23.

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus in working position. In addition to the pair of supports 16, disposed left of the apparatus, the transformation frame consists essentially also .of a right pair of supports 24, remote from the apparatus, which pairs of supports are pivotally connected with the cross-beam 25. Below the cross-beam, which is simultaneously formed as a service stage and is accessible by means of a ladder 26 at the right pair of supports, a lower cross-beam 27 is provided. Above the cross-beam is disposed the elevator motor 28, which moves upwardly and downwardly, respectively, over the rope 29 the elevator mixing container 13 in the elevator path 30, which is formed by the left pair of supports 16. During the run of the elevator mixing container from its lower filling position I into the indicated upper transmittal position I I, the electrical cable 31 for the mixer motor 32 is fed by a cable guide 33, with guide rollers 34. The cable stands thereby in connection with a counter-weight running on the guide 33, which counter-weight prevents a hanging through, as well as any loop formation.

Between the cross-beam and the lower beam 27 is disposed the storage-silo 19 with its upper part 36 secured to the cross-beam 25, the exchangeable intermediate piece 37, as well as the lower part 38 with closure 39 and the setting motor 40. The releasing height of the storage-silo 15 measured such, that vehicles 41 can pass the free space 42 of the frame and that the direct transmittal of the finished concrete is also possible on transportation mixers.

4 In the working position the left pair of supports 16 is connected with the frame at the pivot point 43 of the connecting pieces 44, which are disposed on both longitudinal carriers of the frame 1.

The lifting of the transmittal frame into the working position and the spreading into the transport position, respectively, is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The frame 17 can be brought either collapsed on a vehicle 41, or it can be spread out on the ground 45. Now, the chassis of the feeder 6 from which the boom is taken for transportation, is turned into the direction of the frame 17 and a rope pull 46 is set from the feeder tension 47 from the rope winch 48 to guide rollers 49 on the upper carrier 50 of the frame disposed on the vehicle or on the ground. In addition, the total frame is lifted by operation of the rope winch 48 into the working posit-ion A. The rope guide between the rope winch 48 and the guide rollers 49 is shown in FIG. 3.

Likewise over the rope 46 and by means of the rope winch 48, the lower cross-beams 27 and the parts of the storage-silo 19 are lifted and suspended. It is now merely still necessary that the rope 29 be mounted for the ole vator mixing container 13 and the electric cable 31 for the mixer motor 32, to accumulate the ingredients and to connect the binder means feeder, as well as the water conduits, whereupon the apparatus is ready for operation.

The spreading of the transmittal frame from the working position back to the transportation position takes place equally simply in reverse order.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

I claim:

1. A ro-llable apparatus for the manufacture of concrete, comprising a common frame,

means for feeding, distributing, weighing, as well as mixing of ingredients disposed on said common frame,

an elevator mixer means for conveying and mixing therein the finished concrete and comprising an elevator container,

a trestle-like base disposed at one end of said frame and comprising two pairs of supports in order to increase the conveying and releasing height,

an elevator motor means carried by said base,

said pair of supports disposed behind the apparatus constituting an elevator path for said elevator con- 'tainer,

said elevator motor means for driving said elevator container along said elevator path,

a mixing motor means for mixing the ingredients in said elevator container during travel along said elevator path,

a storage-silo capable to be emptied and disposed in the upper part of said base,

said base having pivoting points,

one of said pairs of supports being connected with said frame by means of said pivoting points, and

said base being capable of being lifted and lowered about said pivoting points and mounted releasably from said frame.

2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said pairs of supports disposed remotely from said apparatus is rotatable at its upper end, and which includes a cross-beam common to both of said pairs of supports,

said one of said pairs of supports is mounted spreadable to the horizontal on said cross-beam.

3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a rope pull,

a feeder,

a rope-winch disposed on the rope tension of said feeder, and wherein said trestle-like base upon connection with said frame is liftable in its pivot points from a horizontal spreader position by means of said rope pull into its working position by said rope winch and is lowerable again from said last mentioned position into the horizontal spreading position.

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, which includes lower cross-beams, and

said rope winch lifting and suspending, respectively, said lower cross-beams and parts of said storage-silo.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,326 3/1938 Berner 259-153 2,945,683 7/1960 Martinson 259-154 X 3,159,288 12/1964 Heise 259-161 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,292,163 3/1962 France.

1,173,375 7/1964 Germany.

ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner. 

